8 years. Didn't see what I wanted. 2001 to 2009. But since killed some good Bucks. 2011 2012 didn't kill one. Killed 2014 2015. 2016 no but 17 18 19 have.
I've gone 2 seasons without a buck a couple times. Trigger finger gets awfully itchy by that 3rd year...
Aw, heck, I've only killed one 'good' buck since I started in 2013. I just didn't see one in 2014 or 16 or 17; 13, 15, and 19 I killed spikes or forks. 2018 was my only 'full rack,' a basket 8. Why? cuz I. Don't. Care. About. Anything. But. Meat [or so I tell myself.] And I'm still new enough at this to get a kick of harvesting just about anything.
Years ago, I bought into the antler craze. I planted food plots. I put out corn. I made mock scrapes. I left a sanctuary alone. I did everything I'd read or heard about to try to grow bigger bucks. I didn't kill a buck on Grindstone in 7 years. I'd become obsessed with killing a 150" or bigger deer. I'd only seen one live deer in 30 years of hunting that was what I thought to be a 150" deer, and it wasn't on Grindstone. I came to realize I didn't have enough land, and I was simply feeding the deer that the neighbors were killing. I learned a lot in those 7 years.
I’m curious how many acres is Grindstone? What kind of hunting pressure around you? Were you the only one hunting on Grindstone?
I have went two years, killed on the third. I put out corn once a year. I put it out the Wednesday before opening Saturday of rifle. I dont feed the deer other than those two weeks Im hunting. I did throw out a 5lb bag of of Hot spot no till in the dirt where we dozed the old brush pile off the ridge top. First food plot I have put out in many years. I have always shot the buck that I like or try to catch a big one after a hot doe. Im mainly out to just enjoy the hunt. Its relaxing to me.
5 or 6 years or more, I can't realky remember. Seen lots of little ones just nothing that I wanted to shoot.
12 months I don't let antler size rule me but I do only shoot mature bucks! I kill a nice buck every yr it might not be a 150" deer every yr but I can't rember the last time I shot one younger than 4 1/2 yr old!
Killed my first buck in 2000, which was a basket rack 9 point. I didn’t kill another until 2006 when I killed my first nice buck. Killed a bit bigger after that in 07 and 08. Started again in 11,12,14,16,18 and 19 on good bucks and a couple smaller ones that were late season on public land mixed in there in 09 and 13.
I haven't harvested a deer , this will make 3 yrs now! 3 yrs ago is when my oldest son started hunting and now my youngest is also...I take them every chance I get!! I've had a blast with them!